UK weather: Seawalls breached in Ilfracombe

Sea walls are breached in Ilfracombe, north Devon, as south-west England,
Wales and Scotland experience more floods, high tides and strong winds

12:39PM GMT 03 Jan 2014

Heavy rain, strong winds and high tides are causing widespread flooding across North Devon this morning,

Exceptional weather conditions combined with high tides led to 16 of the most serious severe flood warnings, where there is a "danger to life", being issued across across North Devon, the South West, Gloucestershire and Wales at 10am while Scotland and Northern Ireland are also on flood alert.

The storms have heaped more midwinter misery on travellers with road journeys and rail services disrupted.

Many major roads were flooded, while trains to and from Gatwick Airport in West Sussex were among those affected by storm-related problems.

Forecasters have warned there would be no respite from the bad weather and floods this weekend as high tides, strong winds and heavy rain continue.